A big part of internships is learning how to work on a team, if not with other interns than with your superiors. If you are working with other interns, it can be hard to find the line between “coworker” and “friend.” Especially because other interns will probably be in your age range, it’s easy to forget that you are in a professional work environment. There are two big pieces of advice that I have to offer for a successful coworking experience:
Stay out of the gossip
You wouldn’t believe how much gossip I hear between interns throughout the day, whether it be directly said to me or over the wall of a cubicle. Gossip can be the result of the line between coworker and friend is blurred, for example after a night out together.
My best advice is to just stay out of it. Don’t start it and don’t spread it. Just listen if you have to and forget it ever happened. It’s unprofessional and can get in the way of teamwork in the future if the other person finds out you’ve been talking about them. Trust is lost, respect is lost, and an overall team tension can build.
Don’t act like it’s a competition
Sure, some healthy competition can be a great motivator in the workplace, but don’t let it get to the point where you’re thinking “I must beat him/her!” You guys are all in the same boat: youngsters trying to mold your skills and build a career.
Instead of trying to beat someone out, look at it as a growing experience together. Other interns could have a lot of valuable insight or job search tips that could help you out in the future. If you’re friendly and helpful, they’ll return the favor if you ever ask for it. It never hurts to have an extra connection or two.
Written by Diane Ly
